Panel fabrication



NOV. 1, j ECHELBERGER PANEL FABRICATION Filed Feb. 16, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

JAMES K. EICHELBERGER ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1949 J. K. EICHELBERGER PANEL FABRICATION Filed Feb. 16, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JAMES K. EICHELBERGER 2 ATTORNEY 1949 J, K. EICHELBERGER 2,487,019

PANEL FABRICATION Filed Feb. 16, 1946 6 sheets-sheet :5

FIG. 6

IN VEN TOR. JAMES K. EICHELBERGER Z ATTORNEY 1949 J. K. EICHELBERGER 2'487'019 PANEL FABRICATION Filed Feb. 16, 1.946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 7

1M TOR;

JAMES K. EICHELBERGER ATTORNFY Nov. 1, 1949 J. K. EICHELBERGER 1 2,487,019

PANEL FABRICATION 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 16, 1946 v mmvroa JAMES K. EICHELBERGER ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1949 J. K. EICHELBERGER PANEL FABRICATION Filed Feb. 16. 1946 FIG. 12

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 13

I14 Q I 115 1 3 g M W R LII FIG. 11

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JAMES K. EICHELBERGER 9 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,487,019 PANEL FABRICATION James K. Eichelberger, Austin, Tex. Application February 16, 1946, Serial No. 648,149

This invention relates to improvements in prefabricated building construction and particularly to an improved method and improved apparatus for constructing prefabricated panel units to be assembled together to form complete buildings or other structures.

Buildings composed of prefabricated sections or units have been in production for sometime but so far have not met with the anticipated degree of commercial success. This at least partly due to the fact that suitable methods have not Claims. (Cl. 1-1) yet been devised for constructing such buildings 7 at a cost materially below the cost of constructing a comparable building on location. The main difference in cost between a building constructed on location and a building formed of prefabricated panel units or sections is mainly in the labor cost of the construction as the materials required are substantially the same in quantity, quality and price for the two types of buildings. Therefore, in order to compete favorably with on-location construction, prefabricated construction must provide at least as satisfactory a building at a cost somewhat less than the cost of construction on location or a better construction at no increase in cost. If the same amount of hand labor is used in constructing the prefabricated panel units as would be used in constructing equivalent portions of the building on location, no material saving in cost can be made.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved method and improved apparatus by means of which suitable panels can be produced with a minimum of manual labor and consequently at a cost materially below the cost of comparable construction on location.

It is also an object to provide an improved method whereby prefabricated panel units for building construction may be produced in a manner which renders such units rigid, durable and accurate in shape and dimens ons so that each panel may be quickly and easily assembled with adjoining panels.

A further object resides in the provision of improved apparatus by means of which prefabricated panel units of various shapes and sizes may be produced without requiring any material changes in the apparatus or any additional amount of manual labor regardless of the size or shape of the panel unit.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

- Fig. 1 is an elevational view OI a pan l of a and the type which can be conveniently manufactured by the improved method and apparatus, portions being broken away and shown in section to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line F 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a fastener or clip used to hold one of the panel covers to the panel frame;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a somewhat different form of fastener or clip used to secure another cover to the panel frame;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus for securing panel cover members to panel frames;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of a press con- ;qtituting a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 'I is a top plan view of the head of the press shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of fluid pressure apparatus for operating the press shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a dolly mounted work supporting platform for moving panel components into and out of the press;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a movable edge guide provided on the platform shown on line |0--l0 of Fig. 9 showing the guide in its withdrawn or retracted position;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of an edge guide similar to Fig. 10 showing the guide in its advanced or engaging position;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a fragmentary portion of the work guide shown in Figs. 10 and 11 showing the guide in the position illustrated in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view smiar to Fig. 12 showing the guide in the operative position illustrated in Fig. 11; and,

Fig. 14 is an elevat onal vie of a fragmentary portion of one of the work uides showing a means for rendering the guide flexible as to height.

With continued reference to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the panel illustrated has a frame formed of suitable timbers, such as x 4" studding to one side of which is secured a cover, preferably formed of plywood, and to the other side a cover formed of plasterboard, sheet rock, or any other suitable interior material desirably having heat insulating characteristics.

The panel frame may comprise a pair of headers I6 and I1 one of which may act as a plate Qther as a sill when the panel is placed of drive screws 35 similar to the In applying the fastener of Fig. 4 to the plywood in operative position. The thickness of these headers may be increased by attaching externally grooved supplemental plates [8 and, I9 thereto to provide a convenient means for securing the panels rigidly in operative position. Studding members as indicated at 20, a, 20b, and 200 extend between the headers I6 and I1 and, if desired, fillers 2| and 22 may be provided between the studding members intermediate the length of the panel. The studdin g members have been shown perpendicular to the headers and parallel to each other but may be arranged otherwise if desired. For example, the two inner studding members 20a and 20b may be arranged in the form of an X to provide additional bracing effect to maintain the panel frame in a square condition.

In the manufacturing method as at present contemplated, frame members of properlength will be provided in quantity and the frames will be assembled by placing the proper members in a suitable jig and nailing or otherwise securing them together.

After the frame members have been properly assembled the fasteners are secured thereto.

The type of .fastener used for the interior cover is particularly shown in Fig. 3 and comprises a base plate 23 from which'a pair Of tongues of triangular shape 24 and 25 are struck up. The base'plate is provided with apertures 26 through which suitable nails or screws, as indicated at 21 in Fig. 2, may be driven to secure the base plate to the surface of the frame with the tongues projecting outwardly from the frame. The members 21 are preferably "drive screws" which may be driven into the wood of the frame but engage with the wood in such a manner that an excessive force is required to withdraw them. A number of fasteners are disposed over each side of the frame in properly spaced locations to firmly and uniformly secure the corresponding cover members to the frame.

In the finished paneL'as illustrated sectionally in Fig. 2, the tongues 24 and 25 penetrate the entire thickness of the interior cover member 28 and are clenched over at their ends to permanently secure the cover member to the frame. In order to obtain the desired bending over and clenching action, the tongues are given an initial curvature toward each other as is illustrated in somewhat exaggerated form in Fig. 3.

The fastener shown in Fig. 4 has a base plate 29 from which are struck up four triangular tongues as indicated at 30, 3|, 32 and 33. These tongues are much shorter than the tongues 24 and 25 shown in Fig. 3, as is clearly apparent from a comparison of the two figures. The base plate 29 is provided with apertures 34 for the reception drive screws 21.

side of the panel, the surface of the frame members to which the fasteners are attached are first grooved or milled out to provide elongated depressions, as indicated at 36, of a width and depth substantially the same as the width and thickness 'of the base plate 29 so that when the fasteners are applied to the frame the outer surface of the base plate is substantially flush with the side surface of the frame.

The tongues to 33 are also given an initial inward curvature and when the panel is in finished condition these tongues do not at any point extend entirely through the plywood panel cover 31 but bend over within the thickness of the cover member, as is particularly shown in Fig. 2.

As a large number of fasteners are used on each side of the panel frame to secure the cover members rigidly and uniformly to the frame it has been found that an attempt to apply the cover members to the frames X manually requires an excessive amount of manual labor which would make the cost of the panels greater than it should be for successful competition with the on location type of construction. Attempts to apply the cover members manually also result in inferior and defective panels s'nce it has not been found possible to drive the cover members on to the fastener without marring the cover members with hammer marks and having them splintered or torn by the fastener tongues as they penetrate the cover members. It has also been found difficult to maintain the frames in a properly squared condition and the cover members in proper alignment with the-frames while attempting to apply the covers manually. This type of construction is therefore not commercially practicable if manual lab-or must be relied on for the entire fabrication of the panels. It has been conceived however that the panel components including the frame with the fasteners thereon and the two frame cover members can be quickly and conveniently assembled in a perfectly squared and perfectly aligned condition and without marring the surface of either of the cover members by utilizing a manufacturing process including a pressing operation in which pressure is applied to the entire surface of both sides of the panel simultaneously by means of smooth parallel surfaces of a hardness sufficient to turn the points of the fastener tongues.

A suitable apparatus for successfully carrying out this method is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, a trackway 38 is provided, the trackway illustrated being annular or endless in form in order to utilize the improved process to the greatest possible advantage. It isquite possible however to carry out the process with a comparatively short length of straight track and under certain conditions such an arrangement might prove to be more economica1 than the complete endless trackway illustrated. Along the trackway are located loading, unloading and pressing stations, one such station being indicated atA, another at B, another at C, one at D, and one at E. In this arrangement. A may indicate a loading station for one type of panel, the components of which may be stored in the space 40 and B may indicate the unloading station for this type of panel, a panel 44 extends across the trackway 38.

One or more vehicles are supported. upon and movable along the trackway, one such vehicle being indicated at 45.

Where an annular or endless track is utilized, a large number of vehicles may be provided as each vehicle is permitted to make a complete cycle past the various loading and unloading stations and the pressing station and the vehicles may follow one another in close order around the track. They may be moved by hand or may be power 'leys which may in posts which support at driven by suitable means such as the cable It guided over the guide pulleys ll located at the opposite ends of the trackway. Power may be transmitted to the cable through one of the pulturn be driven by a suitable motor is operatively connected with the pulley shaft through a suitable gear drive and clutch I. The clutch may be operated to discontinue movement of the cable at desired or predetermined times and its operation may be both man'- ual and automatic. For example, automatic means may be provided to stopthe cable at the instant a vehicle-carrying work to be compressed is properly centered in the press. Resumption of cable movement after the pressing operation may be obtained by a manual control which may also be utilized to stop and start the cable at other times.

While the press 44 and vehicle ll may be provided in various forms without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention, a particular form of each for successfully carrying out the pr ess has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be further described in connection therewith.

A suitable press is illustrated in Figs. 8, 7 and 8. This press has a base ll from which extends a plurality of upwardLv directed standards or their upper ends a stationary inverted press bed If. While any desired number of standards can be used, four standards, one located at each corner of the press, are believed to be entirely adequate. Two suc standards are shown in Fig. 6 as indicated at It and ll.

The pre'ss bed 52 may comprise a framework 58 of structural iron members such as I-beams to the lower surface of which is attached a smooth plate It. Provision may be made for adjusting the height of the bed and leveling it by providing adjustable nuts, as indicated at I1, on screwthreaded upper end portions of the standards, one nut being disposed below and one above the press bed, and additional stiffness may be imparted to the bed by extending a tension truss 58 above it from one side to the other.

The press has a movable head ss below the bed I! which may also comprise a. structural iron frame til covered by a smooth metal plate I.

The press head 59 is moved toward the bed plate is by four fluid pressure operated rams each including a cylinder mounted on the base II and a piston reciprocable in the cylinder and extending upwardly therefrom. Two of the cylinders are indicated at 62 and it in Fig. 6 and the four pistons are indicated at it, 05, t8 and 61 in Fig. 7. Reinforcing members, as indicated at l and O9 in-Fig. 6, may be associated-with the heads of the ram pistons and the under surface of the frame of the press distributing the ram pressure head structure. These members parts of the presshead or may as may be found convenient.

Hydraulic fluidunder pressure is supplied to the several press rams by suitable pressure genevenly over the may be integral be made separately erating and controlling means as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8.

In this arrangement a compressor Ill driven by a suitable motor ll compresses fluid, such as air, into a storage tank I2 from which a conduit 13 leads to a manually operable control valve 14. From the valve a manifold 15 leads to th press and is provided with four branches. as indicated at 16a, 16b, lie, and lid, there being one head to assist in branch for each ram of the tive connection between one of the press rams. lustrated. Connected to the valve is an exhaust line I1 and connected into the manifold II is a pressure relief valve It for regulating the maximum pressure applied to the rams. The valve 14 is a two-way valve which is operative to connect the conduit II with the manifold It or to connect the manifold I! with the exhaust line 11 and simultaneously cut of! the conduit 13. This arrangement will give a rapid but resiliently cushioned lift to the press head of suflicientmagnitude to cause penetration of all of the fastener tongues intothe corresponding panel side cover members and to clench the tongues which extend press. The operaone of is diagrammatically il- -through the interior cover member.

By utilizing the press all of the fasteners are simultaneously penetrated into the cover members and the projecting tongues clenched over and at the same time the surfaces of the cover members are protected against damage by the fastener tongues and the smooth faces of the press bed and movable head will avoid any marring of the surfaces, such as the hammer marks occasioned by attempting to manually secure the cover members to the frame.

The vehicle 45 (Figs. 5 and 6) comprises a frame having two side members and ti of angular cross section. each having an elongated vertical leg and a shorter horizontal leg at the lower end of the vehicle leg. The side frame members are connected together at their ends by suitable end members, cated at 82 in Fig. 6, to provide a substantially rigid rectangular frame for the vehicle.

The vehicle frame is supported upon wheels, two of which are indicated at 81 and It in Fig. 8. The wheels are journalled in corresponding brackets l5 and 80 secured to the lower horizontal leg of the side frame members. It is contemplated that four wheels will be used to support the vehicle but additional wheels may be provided if considered necessary or desirable.

, The wheels are formed each with a centrally located V-shaped groove and a flat annular tread portion at each side of the groove to accommodate the wheels to different track shapes. For example, it has been found desirable in some cases to utilize a track of triangular cross sectional shape, as indicated at n in Fig. 6, with the apex of the triangle at the top of the track for the portion of the track that extends through the press. This form of track provides an accurate and automatic centering of the vehicle relative to the press. Other portions of the track and particularly the curved portions may be formed with side flanges to maintain the vehicle on the track as it is'moved around the trackway. Such flanged track portions may have flat bottom portions upon which the flat annular portions of the wheel may roll.

Members 08 and 88a of angular cross sectional shape are secured one to each side frame member on the inner surface thereof and adjacent to the top of the vertical legs thereof. Each of these members is so positioned that it has a ver-- tically disposed leg secured by suitable means, such as welding, to the inner surface of the corresponding side frame member and a substantially horizontal leg extending inwardly from the corresponding side frame member to provide. a ledge for the reception of the corresponding end portion of a plate or platform as. The end members, as indicated at n, are also of angular the branches and one of which is indicross sectional shape providing inwardly directed legs forming ledges for the reception of the side edge portions of the plate 89 so that the plate is marginally supported on the vehicle frame. As is clearly shown in Fig. 6, the vehicle frame is so constructed that it may be moved past the press ram head 59 and centered thereover when the headis in its lowered position. When the ram head is raised, as shown in the right hand half of Fig. 6, the plate 89 will be raised from the vehicle frame and moved upwardly toward 'the press bed 52 but the vehicle frame itself will not be raised and the wheels supporting the frame will remain at all times on the tracks. When the press head is lowered, the plate 89 will be returned to its position resting on the marginal ledges provided on the vehicle frame and the compressed work may then be moved to an unloading station. While the platform 89 may be provided in various forms without exceeding the scope of the invention, a form particularly adapted for use in fabricating panels of the general character shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and hereinbefore described, is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive.

The plate 89 may be formed as a continuous member of relatively hard material such as steel but it has been found advantageous to form the plate of alternate pieces of metallic and nonmetallic material in order to mitigate the contraction and expansion'efiects of temperature changes. If such a composite construction is used, the parts will preferably be so arranged that the pieces of hard material will be disposed beneath the fastening elements on the correspondingside of the frame. This, however, is not critical since in stacking the panel'components on the platform the plywood cover member will ordinarily be placed next to the plate 89 and, as the tongues of the corresponding fasteners do not penetrate the plywood member, there is no clenching action between this group of fasteners and the platform plate. In its upper surface the plate 89 carries panel edge guides which may be conveniently provided in four parts as indicated at 99, 9|, 92 and 93. In the arrangement shown, the parts 99 and 92 lie along the longer edges of the plate and the parts 9| portions surround a rectangular space, the corners of which are absolutely square and which is of approximately the size of a particular panel, such as the panel 29 shown in Fig. 9.

The portions 99 and 9| are rigidly secured to the plate 89 as by being bolted or welded to the plate, while the portions 92 and 93 are provided with a limited freedom of movement toward and away from the corresponding edges of the panel 29'.

Referring now to Figs. and-11, each "guide portion has a rigid base member 94 of angular or L shaped cross section, one leg 95 being disposed fiat on the upper surface of the plate 89 and the other leg 96 extending upwardly at right angles to the surface of the plate. A guide extension 91 of inverted U-shaped cross section is slidably mountedon the vertical leg of'base member 94. This extension comprises an inner wall 98 and an outer wall 99-joined at their top edges by a transverse wall or edged portion I99, the walls 98 and 99 being spaced to provide between them a space in which the leg 98 is received with a close sliding fit. The inner wall 98 is shorter than the outerwall 99 and a filler plate and 83 extend across the shorter edges. The inner surfaces of these guide I 8. V IN is secured to the inner surface of the vertical leg 98 of the base member with its lower edge resting upon the upper surface of the plate 89. This filler plate is of a height somewhat greater than the thickness of the plywood cover member 81- and such as to leave between its upper edge and the lower edge of extension wall 98 a space at least as great as the amount by which the thickness of the panel components are reduced in the press. This distance will be substantially equal to the sum of the lengths of the tongues of the fasteners secured on the opposite sides of the frame plus a slight allowance for compression of the metal of the frame and the cover members.

The lowermost positionoi' the extension 91 may be determined by contact of the adjoining edges of the wall 98 and filler strip l9l. Additional means are provided to maintain the extension in operative association with the base member and provide a limit for its upward movement. This means, as shown in Fig. 14, may conveniently take the form of elongated vertical slots I92 provided in the outer wall 99 of the extension at properly spaced intervals and corresponding pins I98 secured to the vertical leg 96 of the base member and projecting outwardly from the outer surface thereof into corresponding slots in the extension.

The extension is resiliently urged to its uppermost position and additionally guided in its vertical movements by spring and guide assemblies spaced along the length of each guide portion, one such assembly being shown in detail in Fig. 14. Each assembly includes a pin or dowel I98 fixed at its lower end to the horizontal leg of the base member and projecting upwardly from the upper surface thereof, an apertured lug I99 secured to the outer wall 99 of the extension and projecting outwardly therefrom and slidably receiving the corresponding pin I94, and a coil compression spring I96 surrounding the pin I94 .between the horizontal leg 95 of the base member and the lug I95. These guide and spring assemblies are generally indicated at l95a, Illib, I950, and Will in Fig. 9.

In assembling the panel components on the vehicle carried platform, the preferred m thod is to first place the plywood cover member 31 on the platform and bring its corresponding edges into firm contact with the inner surfaces of the fixed or stationary guide portions 99 and 9|. The frame with the fasteners attached is then..placed on the plywood cover member and its edges are brought into firm contact with the inner surfaces of the fixed guide portions and the interior cover member 28 is then placed on the frame member and its corresponding edges are moved into firm contact with the inner surfaces of the fixed guide portions. The movable guide portions are then moved into firm contact with the corresponding edges of the above enumerated panel components. Any change of the frame from an absolutely square condition is thus corrected and the various components are brought into accurate alignment in their superimposed condition. As explained above, the guide portions, when in their extended condition, reach to the top of the stack of panel components when the cover members are separated from the frame by distances substantially equal to the length of the fastener tongues and when the components are compressed to force the tongues into the cover members, the guide portions are simultaneously collapsed to a height not greater than the thickness of the panel in its compressed condition.

Suitable means for moving the movable guide portions toward and away from th corresponding edges of the work is particularly illustrated in Figs. 10 and 13 inclusive. Such means comprise spaced assemblies as generally indicated at 16a, lib, I060, and IBM, in Fig. 9. As the assemblies are all similar in construction and arrangcment, a description of only one is necessary for the purpose of this disclosure and the assembly i080 of Fig. 9 has been selected for detailed description.

Th horizontal leg -95 of the base member 94 is provided with a transverse slot I01 extending perpendicularly outwardly from the plate of the inner surface of the vertical leg 86. The length of this slot may be in the order of two inches although this dimension may be varied within relatively wide limits without exceeding the scope of the invention. A pin I08 is fixed at its lower end in the plate 89 and extends upwardl through the slot I01 and through a circular or annular cam member I09 and is provided on its upper end with external screw threads which receive a nut H which maintains the base member and the cam in operative assembly with the plate 89. As is clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the pin extends through the cam at a location considerably removed from the center of the cam. Around its edge the cam is provided with an upstandin flange III which is engaged by a. hook member ll: welded or otherwise suitably secured to the vertical leg of the base member near its junction with the horizontal leg 95. A stem H3 extends upwardly from the center of the cam and a handle H4 is secured to the upper end of the stem and extends outwardly in a substantially horizontal direction. This handle is operative to rotate the cam about the pin I08 between the two operative positions illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 respectively. When the handle is'in the position illustrated in Fig. 12 the movable guide portion is in its retracted position in which it is removed from the adjacent edge of the work as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 10. When the handle is swung ,aroundto the position shown in Fig. 13 the movable guide portion is forced inwardly into firm engagement with the edge of the work as illustrated in Fig. 11. The handle is secured in the position in which the guide engages the work by a suitable lock member which may have a horizontal base portion secured to the upper surface of the leg 95 of the guide base and an upstanding portion hinged at its lower end to the base portion by a suitable swivel joint H6 so that it may be moved to engage and disengagehthe outer end portion of the handle.

Before the panel components are stacked on the frame the movable guide portion will be retracted so that the components may be conveniently positioned against the fixed guide portions. After all of the components are placed on the platform the movable guide portions will be forced inwardly into contact with the corresponding edges of the work and locked in that position for the pressing operation. After the components have been compressed to complete the panel the movable guide portions will be retracted to release the panel from the edge guides so that the panel may be quickly and easily removed from the platform.

While the limited movement of the movable panel portions may be used to accommodate the platform to panels differing thereof and therefore amount, it is contemplated that different platforms with properly arranged edge guides will be provided for panels which differ materially in size I v or shape.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In the art of forming sections of frame and panel components, that improvement which comprises assembling a frame including fasteners on either side of said frame; assembling the panel components with a plywood member on one side of the frame and a plaster board member on the other side; and pressing said components together to cause the fasteners to penetrate the plywood and plaster board to secure them to the frame.

2. The method of forming sections of frame and panel components which comprises assembling a frame; attaching fasteners to the frame; assembling the frame with two cover members disposed one on each side thereof; and compressing the frame and cover members together to obtain a substantially simultaneous penetration of all the fasteners into the cover members.

3. In the art of panel manufacture that improvement which comprises assembling the panel components including a frame with fasteners thereon, a plywood cover member for one side of the frame and a plaster board cover member for the other side of the frame in properly aligned condition; and subjecting the panel components to pressure to obtain a substantially simultaneous penetration of the fasteners into the cover members to secure thecover members to the frame.

4. In the art of panel manufacture that improvement which comprises providing panel com ponents including a frame with fasteners thereon and a pair of frame cover members, one for each side of the frame; assembling said components by placing one cover member on a movable platform, the frame on the one cover member and the other cover member-on the frame; and compressing the components while holding them in properly aligned accurately squared condition, until the fasteners penetrate the frame cover members.

5. Apparatus for panel fabrication comprising a vehicle runway; a vehicle movable on said runway and having a work supporting platform; a

press associated with said runway operative to compress work carried on said vehicle; said press having a fixed top plate and ram means operative to engage the platform and move it toward said top plate; a source of fluid under pressure for operating said ram means and fluid conduits connecting said source with said ram means; and valve means in said conduits controlling said ram means.

6. Apparatus for panel fabrication comprising an endless trackway; a vehicle movable around said trackway comprising a wheel supported frame and a movable work carrying platform marginally supported on said frame; a press associated with said trackway comprising a stationary top plate, a movable press head, and fluid pressure operated means below said head for forcing the head toward said top plate, said head being receivable in the vehicle frame and arranged to pass through said frame to lift said in Size y a Small work carrying platform without lifting said frame; a source of fluid under pressure operatively connected with said fluid pressure operated means; and valve means operatively associated with said fluid pressure operated means to control the same.

thereby, said press having a movable head engageable with said platform and fluid pressure operated means for moving said head, said fluid pressure operated means comprising four rams arranged for substantially uniform pressure distribution over the area of said platform each ram comprising a stationary cylinder and a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a source of fluid under pressure; conduit means connecting said source with said rams operative to apply the same fluid pressure to all of said pistons; and manually operable valve means in said conduit means for simultaneously controlling said rams.

8. Apparatus for manufacturing building sections comprising a trackway; a vehicle movable on said trackway and having a work carrying platform separable therefrom; a press associated with said trackway to receive said vehicle and lift said platform to compress work carried thereby, said press comprising a stationary inverted bed; a base; and means for forcing the work carrying platform toward said inverted bed including four cylinders mounted on said base and arranged to equalize the pressure exerted on different portions of said platform; a piston reciprocable in each cylinder, said pistons being operative collectively to raise said platform; and means effective to apply fluid pressure to the piston and cylinder assemblies.

9. In apparatus for manufacturing building sections a trackway; a press associated with said trackway; and a vehicle movable on said trackway and having a work supporting platform for moving section components into and out of said press, said platform having relatively fixed work guide members along two adjoining sides thereof and relatively movable work guide members along the other two adjoining sides thereof, each of said guide members comprising a base plate disposed fiat on said platform, a guide plate secured to said base plate and disposed at right angles thereto; a guide extension of generally U -shaped cross section slidably mounted on said guide plate, and resilient means urging said extension toward its upper limiting position.

10. In panel manufacturing apparatus a movable platform for supporting panel components during a compressing operation and panel edge guides extending upwardly from the surface of said platform, said guides having movable upper portions spring urged to a position at which the height of the guides is at least as great as the thickness of the uncompressed panel components and being collapsible under pressure to a height not greater than the thickness of the compressed panel components.

11. In a panel manufacturing apparatus a movable platform for supporting panel componentsduring a compressing operation and panel edge guides extending upwardly from the surface of said platform, said guides having movable upper portions spring urged to a position at which the height of the guides is at least as great as the thickness of the uncompressed panel components 12 and being collapsible under pressure to a height not greater than the thickness ofthe compressed panel components, the guide along two adjoining edges of said platform be ng movable toward and away from the oppositely disposed guides.

12. In panel manufacturing apparatus a movable platform for supporting panel components during a compressing operation and panel edge guides extending upwardly from the surface of said platform, said guides having movable upper portions spring urged to a position at which the height of the guides is at least as great as the thickness of the uncompressed panel components and being collapsible under pressure to a height not greater than the thickness of the compressed panel components, the guides along two adjoining edges of said platform being movable toward and away from the oppositely disposed guides, and means for moving said movable guides comprising pins secured to said platform and extending through slots in the base plates; an annular cam eccentri-cally pivoted on each pin; hooks on the guides engaged one with each cam; and a handle on each cam for rotating said cams to move said movable edge guides.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein spaced pins are secured to said base plates and extend perpendicularly thereto, apertured lugs are secured to. said extensions and receive respective pins, and a coiled compression spring surround each pin between the base plate and the corresponding lug.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein each guide plate is provided with pins extending through corresponding elongated slots in the respective extension to limit movement of said extensions relative to the guide plates.

15. In panel manufacturing apparatus a work supporting platform; and work engaging guides on said platform to align and accurately square the panel components comprising members of generally L-shaped cross section disposed one along each edge of said platform; an extension of inverted U-shaped section slidably mounted on the outwardly extending leg of each L section member; means limiting movement of each extension relative to the corresponding L section member; means resiliently urging each extension toward its upper limiting position; and means providing a limited freedom of movement of at least two of said guides toward and away from the work.

'JAMEs K. EICHELBERGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Herr Sept. 6, 1938 

